It’s Pet Dental Health Month. Here are 8 cool things to know about dog teeth

By Kim Campbell Thornto

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When you look at your dog’s teeth, you’re looking at the canine version of a multipurpose tool. Dogs don’t have opposable thumbs or long fingers for grasping objects, so their teeth often stand in for hands. Teeth are good for picking up toys, holding onto things, scratching an itch, removing parasites from fur, defense and, of course, eating.

Anatomically, dog teeth have some interesting differences from human teeth, as well as some similarities.

First, the numbers: Dogs have 42 teeth, while humans have only 30. But not every dog has 42 teeth.

Hairless dogs such as Chinese cresteds, Peruvian Inca orchids (PIO for short), and Xoloitzcuintli (aka Mexican hairless) not only lack a coat, they are often lacking certain teeth as well. The missing hair and teeth result from a mutation on a gene called forkhead I3 gene (FOXI3). Dogs with two copies of the FOXI3 mutation are hairless, those with a single copy have some hair and those with no copies have a regular coat and dentition. In Chinese cresteds, dogs with a normal coat and teeth are called powderpuffs. Xolos and PIOs with hair are simply referred to as “coated.”

Like human teeth, canine teeth are formed in layers. Enamel, the white part that you see when your dog smiles at you, is the hardest substance in the body. Beneath the enamel is dentin, the main support structure of the tooth, which, unlike enamel, continues to thicken throughout the dog’s life. Harder than bone but not as hard as enamel, it’s sensitive to temperature and pain. Inside the dentin is the pulp, living tissue that contains blood vessels, nerves and the cells that produce dentin.

Dogs have longer tooth roots than humans. According to veterinary dental specialist Jan Bellows, DVM, 60% of an animal’s tooth is below the gumline.

Primary, or first, teeth -- also known as deciduous teeth -- start to erupt when puppies are 4 to 6 weeks old. Baby teeth consist of incisors, canines and premolars. Molars hang back and come in with the secondary, or permanent, teeth. (That’s why puppies have only 28 teeth while adult dogs have 42.) Secondary teeth start to push their way through when pups are 3 months old and are completely in by the time pups are 7 months old.

Sometimes, baby teeth hang on rather than falling out, causing crowding in tooth sockets. These persistent primary teeth need to come out so they don’t push permanent teeth out of place.

Chewing can ease the pangs of incoming teeth, but puppy chew items should be soft so they don’t break the primary teeth, which have weak enamel and dentin, Dr. Bellows says. “No antlers, no bones, no nylon chews, because they break teeth,” he says. “Once those teeth break, bacteria (can) get into the pulp and travel down to the apex of the root, which can affect the secondary tooth permanently.”

Some dogs need orthodontic treatments, not for a pretty smile, but to give the dog a functional, pain-free bite -- not a mailman kind of bite, but the way the teeth are aligned. Dogs have a scissors bite, meaning the upper incisors overlap the lower incisors and the lower canines fit between the upper third incisor and the upper canine. When the bite isn’t right, it’s called a malocclusion and can cause pain. That’s when dogs need orthodontic attention.

“If they have a malpositioned tooth, or if they have a skeletal deformity, where the lower teeth are making holes in the upper palate, then they should seek the advice of a veterinary dentist to either decrease the height of the teeth that are causing the problems and restoring them; putting medicine on top of the pulp and putting bonding on it so the canines aren't penetrating anymore; moving the teeth to functional positions; or taking them out,” Dr. Bellows says.

Q&A

CGC title gives

dogs options

Q: What are the benefits of a Canine Good Citizen title for a dog?

A: I’m glad you asked! Dogs who earn a CGC have a foundation of good manners and skills that will stand them in good stead throughout life.

Dogs are evaluated on 10 different skills: greeting a friendly stranger; sitting politely for petting; willingly allowing brushing and paws and ears to be handled; walking on a loose leash; moving politely through a crowd; sitting, lying down and staying in place on cue; coming when called; behaving politely around other dogs; reacting with confidence to distractions; and being left with a trusted person.

The CGC title can be earned by any dog of any age, breed or mix. It’s often required for making therapy dog visits -- in addition to regular therapy dog training -- and it’s a good basis for learning other skills and dog sports. Your homeowners’ insurance company may offer a discount if your dog earns a CGC, or you may find that it’s a requirement for moving into an apartment or condo complex. Hotels may waive or discount pet fees if you show proof of your dog’s CGC.

Young dogs can start with the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program and progress to the CGC title. Shelter dogs or dogs in other special situations may benefit from the CGC-Ready program, which preps them for the CGC test.

After acquiring their CGC, city dogs can earn the CGC-U title, demonstrating their skills at navigating urban environments -- riding on an elevator, for instance. They are tested in public settings that include traffic, crowds, noises, smells and other distractions. A CGC-U title might be required for your pet dog to ride public transportation or enter certain dog-friendly establishments.

Bonus: CGC training will help you and your dog develop strong communication skills. Always train with someone who uses positive-reinforcement techniques. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Smart tips to

housetrain pup

-- Got a new pup? Here are some housetraining tips. Puppies need to relieve themselves after they wake up, after they eat or drink, and after play. Take him out immediately after those activities, and reward him as soon as he potties outdoors with praise or a treat (or both!). When you know he’s “empty” because you saw him potty, he can play in the house under supervision. When you can’t supervise, give him some downtime in his crate. That will help him learn to “hold it.” Remember that young puppies, especially small breeds or mixes, can't go very long without eating, drinking, sleeping or relieving themselves. A good rule of thumb: Puppies can hold it as long as their age in months. A 2-month-old pup can stay in a crate for about two hours, for example.

-- Birds keep their feathers fine by drawing them through their beaks, cleaning and coating them with oil they pull from a gland at the base of their tails. This behavior is called preening. Preening is a social behavior, too; besides preening each other, birds may also enjoy preening the hair of their favorite people.

--If your cat is sneezing and has runny eyes, she may have a respiratory virus such as feline viral rhinotracheitis or feline calicivirus. Signs of viral respiratory disease include a watery or puslike discharge from the eyes and nose, lots of sneezing, and ulcers in her mouth or on her nose. Respiratory viruses can develop into pneumonia or a secondary bacterial infection, so it’s important to take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as you notice signs. These types of viruses are highly contagious, so if you have multiple cats, isolate the sick one so she doesn’t spread the disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

How do you know if your pet loves you? Read their signs

Andrews McMeel Syndication

We love our pets, no doubt about it. In a survey of 16,000 dog and cat owners and 1,200 veterinarians across eight countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Japan and China), 95% of respondents said they consider pets part of the family, and 98% reported benefits from having a pet in their lives, including increased happiness, reduced loneliness and decreased stress, according to the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute and Zoetis.

But do pets love us back? We think the answer is yes, and so do some leading scientists. Neuroscientist Gregory Berns at Emory University and psychology professor Clive Wynne at Arizona State University are among the canine cognition researchers who have made dogs and their relationships with us the subject of their studies. Berns is the author of “How Dogs Love Us,” and Wynne of “Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You.”

On the cat side: In separate studies, researchers at Oregon State University’s Human-Animal Interaction Lab, as well as scientists in Sweden, found that cats -- long thought of as aloof creatures -- seek out and often prefer social interactions with people.

Maybe our pets can’t speak the words “Happy Valentine’s Day,” but they show their love for us through their body language, vocalizations, brain response and actions. Here’s how you can tell when your pet is saying “I love you.”

-- They want to be close. Some lean against a leg, want to be in a lap, lie on top of your head or next to you, rest their heads on your feet or rub their faces against you. Cats are known for rubbing against their people to “mark” them, using a scent gland on their cheek. When your cat is winding through your legs or knocking foreheads with you -- known as bunting -- that’s what she’s doing. Dogs also have scent glands in the facial area and will nuzzle or rub their faces against their people.

-- They gaze at us. Staring is bad manners among dogs and cats, who consider it an aggressive act, but when interacting with us, dogs will return our looks of love and even seek out eye contact, showing us eyes that are normal size with a relaxed gaze. Cats give eye kisses by slowly blinking at us. Blink slowly back at your cat if you want to return the love.

-- They react happily to the sound of our voices. Don’t you love it when you come home and call your pet’s name, and he comes bounding joyfully to you? It’s even more special when he leaves a favorite toy or even a meal to come and greet you.

-- They love our scent. Your scent triggers activity in the reward center of your dog’s brain. The area known as the “caudate nucleus” is rich in dopamine receptors. For humans, it lights up when we anticipate eating Mom’s apple pie or reuniting with someone we love. Using positive reinforcement techniques, Berns trained dogs to enter an MRI machine willingly and unsedated. He then scanned their brains while presenting them with the odors of different people. Only one type of smell activated the caudate: that of someone they knew. In “How Dogs Love Us,” he writes: “Could it be longing? Or love? It seemed entirely possible. These patterns of brain activation looked strikingly similar to those observed when humans are shown pictures of people they love.”

Like yours, our own pets have special ways of showing their love. My dog Harper is a watcher, always looking to see what I’m going to do so she can trail after me. Mikkel’s cat Mylo flies to her side when she calls. “He jumps into my arms, crawls up my chest, then drools and purrs on my neck, making happy biscuits in my hair,” she says. Now that’s love!

Q&A

Why dogs can’t

eat chocolate

Q: Why is chocolate toxic to dogs, and what should I do if my dog eats some?

A: For those of us who love chocolate and know about the health benefits of dark chocolate, it’s hard to imagine that it could be toxic to our best friends.

Lots of dogs love the taste of chocolate, based on the number of them that I hear about who have broken into the Halloween stash, holiday gift boxes of the stuff, and Valentine’s Day sweets, but chocolate doesn’t love them back.

Chocolate contains both caffeine and a substance called theobromine. Both are plant alkaloids, mildly stimulating to humans, but toxic to dogs; they aren't able to process theobromine as efficiently as humans.

You may have heard of dogs who eat, say, a whole pan of brownies with no ill effects. That’s because chocolate's toxic effects -- known as chocolate toxicosis -- vary by size of the dog, amount and type of chocolate eaten, and individual sensitivity.

The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is. That doesn't mean that milk chocolate is safe. One ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is a potentially lethal dose in dogs.

Dogs who ingest chocolate may start to vomit, have diarrhea or become unusually thirsty within six to 12 hours. Other signs include restlessness, a distended abdomen, seizures, a racing heart (tachycardia), and high or low blood pressure. Dogs who are highly sensitive to theobromine or who ingest cocoa powder or unsweetened baking chocolate can die from cardiac arrhythmias, hyperthermia or respiratory failure.

Another factor is the possible presence of xylitol, a sugar alcohol, in some chocolate products. It's highly toxic to dogs and may be of more concern than chocolate itself. When in doubt, call a pet poison hotline. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Vaccine protects

bunnies from virus

-- We’ve reported previously about deadly rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, which is circulating in the United States and affects pet and wild rabbits. University of Illinois veterinarian Krista Keller, an exotic animal specialist, recommends that pet rabbits be vaccinated now before possible outbreaks in the spring. The calicivirus can be carried to pet rabbits indoors on human shoes and clothing, as well as to bunnies grazing in yards where wild rabbits have been. It has a rapid incubation period of one to two days, causes hemorrhaging and is highly contagious. The vaccine, which is a two-shot series and requires annual boosters, is nearly 100% effective at protecting against infection. That’s good, because no treatment is available. Adult rabbits are at greatest risk; humans and other animals are not affected. For more information, see the House Rabbit Society website: rabbit.org/rhdv.

-- Belgian Malinois are commonly employed by police, the military, and search and rescue teams. Jobs they perform -- thanks to their keen sense of smell -- include sniffing out contraband, the coronavirus, and jaguar and cheetah scat.

-- Children on the autism spectrum had significantly improved social skills and behavior after a cat joined their family. That’s one of the findings of research fellow Gretchen Carlisle of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She conducted a study that involved placing shelter cats with families whose children were on the autism spectrum. The cats were screened for social temperament, and families could choose the cat they preferred. Research team members monitored not only the children’s behavior but also the stress levels of the cats. “After the adoption of their cat, parents rated their children as having an improvement in empathy and fewer problem behaviors,” Carlisle said. “Parents also rated their children as having less separation anxiety.” -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

9 things you don’t know about your cat’s teeth

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

You may not think about your cat’s teeth very often -- unless he bites you -- but they are an important part of your cat’s anatomy. A cat’s teeth are weapons, eating utensils and health barometers. Here are nine facts about them that may surprise you.

1. A kitten’s age can be estimated by the number of teeth. Cats have 26 teeth as kittens and 30 as adults -- fewer than dogs, who have 42, and humans, who have 32. A kitten’s deciduous (baby) teeth start to come in when they are 2 to 3 weeks old. Deciduous teeth are replaced by permanent teeth when kittens are 6 to 7 months old.

2. Cats are known for their canines, aka fangs, but they also have incisors, premolars and molars. The reason kittens have only 26 teeth is because their molars come in with the adult teeth. (Unlike dogs, by the way, a cat’s molars don’t have grinding surfaces.)

3. Sometimes baby teeth are retained, causing problems when permanent teeth come in. The permanent teeth get pushed out of place, leading to a bad bite. Baby teeth that don’t fall out need to be pulled so that they don’t cause overcrowding in the mouth. That’s a common problem in flat-faced cats such as Persians, says veterinary dental specialist Jan Bellows, DVM.

4. A cat’s fangs are equipped with a crease along the edge called a “blood groove.” When a cat sinks her canines into prey, blood flows down the groove and out of the way instead of pooling in the mouth.

5. Cats can develop some serious mouth problems, such as tooth resorption or stomatitis, that require removal of some or all of their teeth. The good news is that while cats certainly use their teeth to pick up food, they don’t actually need them to eat. Whether you feed canned or dry food, a toothless cat can chow down just as well as one with teeth.

6. Cat bites are serious, and not just to their prey. Cats’ mouths carry less bacteria than both dogs and humans, Dr. Bellows says, but the organisms in there, typically Pasteurella and Pseudomonas, can be bad players. And cat bites go deep. “They go almost to the bone,” Bellows says. “I’ve been bitten a couple of times by cats, and my fingers swell and discharge comes out.” Wash cat bites thoroughly with soap and water, apply Betadine and see your physician right away for a course of antibiotics.

7. A cat’s tooth enamel is thin compared to that of dogs and humans. Even a small fracture exposes the nerves next to the pulp, requiring a root canal or extraction of the tooth.

8. This probably is no surprise, but brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging. An easier and equally effective method is to take a cotton swab, dip it in the water from a can of tuna, and rub at the gums where they surround the teeth, an area known as the gingival margin. That helps to remove the daily accumulation of plaque, the soft, sticky, bacteria-containing film that adheres to teeth and hardens into yellow or brown tartar (also known as calculus). Tartar stains the teeth and causes irregular surfaces to form, making it easier for plaque to make itself at home. Why tuna water? “It doesn’t do anything medically, but cats like it,” Dr. Bellows says.

9. You can make feline tooth-cleaning easier if you accustom kittens to it when you first get them. If you don’t want to go the cotton swab and tuna water route, rub the teeth instead with a handkerchief or a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. “Figure out a way to remove the plaque every day from the cat’s mouth,” Dr. Bellows says.

Q&A

Clicker training pup

rewards good behavior

Q: How do I clicker train my puppy?

A: Clicker training is a fun way to teach puppies and adult dogs all kinds of things. All it takes is a clicker -- a small plastic box with a metal strip inside that makes a “click” sound when pressed -- and a good sense of timing. The sound of the click acts as a reward, letting the dog know that a tiny, tasty treat is on the way.

You click when your dog is doing something that you like, whether that’s sitting or raising a paw or touching his nose to an object. The click lets him know that the behavior he’s doing at the sound of the click is what’s being rewarded. Then you follow it with a treat. Your dog will quickly learn to repeat the behavior. Click and treat (just once!) each time he does.

Once your dog understands the pattern -- he sits, you click and give a treat -- you can add a name to the cue: “Sit.” Begin offering food rewards more randomly to strengthen them (the same principle that keeps you pulling the handle of the slot machine).

Start adding more behaviors that you can click, treat and name: down, twirl (both directions), shake, high-five, roll over. The list is endless. It’s also a great way to teach behaviors at a distance, such as retrieving.

Clicker training works best when you keep training sessions short. As little as five minutes a couple of times a day is a good amount of training time. Work on only one behavior at a time.

Most important: Never punish your dog for not "getting it right." Clicker training is all about the payoff. To learn more about clicker training, visit fearfreehappyhomes.com/clicker-training-basics. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Dogs may eat

less in winter

-- A dog's dietary needs are based mainly on activity levels. Unless your dog is out cross-country skiing with you or pulling a sled, he might need to eat less in winter because he's less active. The advice on the bag or can regarding how much to feed is just a starting point, not a hard-and-fast rule. Every dog is different, so start with the recommended amount, or a little less, and adjust up or down depending on your dog’s body condition. You can find canine (and feline) body condition charts online.

-- Head-tilting in rabbits is common and can be caused by a variety of diseases. A common name for head tilt is "wry neck," although the correct medical term is "vestibular disease." Rabbits with vestibular disease can have a head position that ranges from a few degrees to 180 degrees off the normal position. They can fall over, circle, have difficulty standing and develop eye injuries because the downward-facing eye is in a position of vulnerability. For rabbits with vestibular disease, the vast majority will recover most of their normal head position and lead normal lives, as long as good nursing, veterinary care and time for recovery are provided. Other rabbits, however, will have a lifelong residual head tilt even if the inner ear disease is cured.

-- Cataracts are cloudy spots on the normally transparent lens of the eye. Cataracts may start to appear when dogs are 6 years old to 8 years old and can eventually lead to blindness. Dogs rely more on scent than sight, however, and they can get around very well simply by using their noses -- as long as you don't move the furniture. If your dog's cataracts are so bad that he's running into things, ask your veterinarian about cataract surgery.

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.